Saturday 18th December 1954

Cradley Heath

New entertainment for Cradley Heath proved a car wreck which didn't take off

Bish, bash, bosh - it was an inaugural event at Cradley Heath which provided "occasional thrills," according to our Star correspondent who witnessed that historic evening.

Considering we're talking stock car racing, that was faint praise indeed.

A disappointing crowd of fewer than 2,000 turned up at Cradley Heath Stadium on Saturday, December 18, 1954, for the first - and, as it turned out, penultimate - stock car meeting to the held in there.

Lack of advertising was put forward as an explanation for the poor attendance, but our correspondent thought that high admission prices of 4s (that's 20p) and 7s 6d (38p) were a more likely factor in keeping would-be spectators away.

Each of the three heats was supposed to contain 12 cars, but in none was there a full quota. It was not until the consolation race for cars not placed in the heats, and the grand final, when both races had 15 cars, that the spectacle lived up to its reputation.

Drivers racing under the floodlights included the likes of "Mad" Mason, "Wrecker" Meadway, and a woman competitor, Mrs Margaret Bott, of Cannock.

Despite the gripes there was plenty of fun for the crowd, with oil drums being sent flying, cars being bashed, concrete posts around the edge of the track being flattened - they had been made "safer" by rubber rings - and at least one car bursting into flames. No injuries reported.

In one incident number 36, entered as "Dryhurst," bumped into the back of Sid Booth, number 35, and they completed the last half dozen laps stuck together. Booth was placed first, while 36 was not in the first four. Our confused correspondent surmised that the "Dryhurst" must have been lapped.

For the record Robby Robbins, of Nuneaton, won the final.

"The sponsors are hoping for a much bigger crowd, weather permitting, for the next programme on Boxing Day afternoon. But it was the general opinion that prices will have to be lowered if people are to be attracted from this working class area," the Star reported.

As for Mrs Bott, who was in her late 20s, she was unusual but not unique in being a local female stock car driver, and raced at Cradley Heath, Hednesford, and Perry Barr.

Her husband Alfred, who also raced, had been a paratrooper during the war. In fact she used a paratrooper's quick-release harness in the car.

Manageress of a music shop during the day, she helped her husband in his motor business in the evenings. The Botts had an 11-year-old son who was equally keen - on his birthday they gave him a second hand 8hp car, and while he was on holiday from boarding school he practised on spare ground behind their garage.

expressandstar.com 30th January 2026